Current-motor



No. 625,220. Patented May I6, |899.

W. TURNER.

CURRENT MOTOR.

(Application led may 7, 189B.)

No. 625,220. Patented may la, |899. w. TURNER.

UURRENT MOTOR.

(Application led Hay 7, 1898.) (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Mlm'

No. 625,220. Patented May I6, i899.

` W. TURNER.

CURRENT MOTOR.

(Apphcatxon filed Hay? 189B) ND Modem 5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

31u/fuente@ No. 625,22. Patented May I6, |899. W. TURNER.

CURRENT MOTOR.

(Application led Hay 7, 1898.) (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

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No. 625,220. Patented May I6, |899. W. TURNER.

CURRENT MDTOR.

Y (Application led Hay 7, 1898.) (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Shee 5.

*wi l'neamb l NTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VILLIAM TURNER, AOF VENATCHEE, VASHINGTON.

CURRENT-MOTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 625,220, dated May 16, 1899.

Application tiled May 7, 1898. Serial No. 680.060. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concer/f1.:

Beit known that LVILLIAM TURNER, a citi- Zen of the United States, residing at Wenatchee, in the county of Kittitas and State of Washington, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Current-Motors; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to current-motors; and it consists of the construction and arrangement of parts more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

The object of the invention is to so arrange a current-motor that power may be transmitted from opposite sides thereof for driving machinery generally, and thereby utilize the current of a river or other body ot' water in the several arts and manufactures at a minimum cost as well as for general irri gating purposes.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of a current-motor embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the sam-e. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section. Fig. 4 is a rear end elevation. Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of one of the propelling-paddles. Fig. 7 is a similar view of a slight modification in the construetion of the paddles. Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view ofl one of the end hangers. Fig. 9 is a similar view of one of the hangers applied to the end of the motor opposite to that at which the hanger shown by Fig. 8 is used.

Referring to the drawings, wherein similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts in the several views, the numerals 1 and 2 designate outer side floats, which, as shown, are rectangular in form and hollow, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 5. Extending upwardly from the front ends of the floats 1 and 2 are supporting float-arms 3, which are converged toward each otherand serve as protectors for the adjacent mechanism and also to receive afront fender 4., which closes in the front end of the motor and extends backwardly on opposite sides over the opposite portions of the floats l and 2. This fender serves to prevent the mechanism from becoming entangled with or injured by logs or debris and is so inclined at all points at the front as to deflect such material either to one side or the other and clear the motor. The fender is extended rearward a sufficient distance to preventlodgment of debris against the outside of the iloats 1 and 2, and at all points said fender extends downwardly aud deep enough to also prevent iioating material from passing under the motor. By this means the paddles, which will be hereinafter referred to, are unimpeded in their action and continuously receive the full force of the current and maintain thereby a ysteady operation ot' the driving mechanism. As more clearly shown in Fig. 5, the outer floats 1 and 2 are connected to inner hollow floats 5 by suitable upper and lower tie-plates 6, the said inner floats 5 being. spaced apart from each.

other at the center to form a waterway 7, for a purpose which will be hereinafter set forth. On the top of the floats 5 a metal or other suitable sheathing 8 is secured and covers the central open space between the said floats and also acts as a wear-plate for the paddles or propellers.

Extending outwardly from the end floats of the central series are bearing-arms 9, in which the opposite ends of shafts 10 and 11 are j ournaled, the said shafts being intermediately braced by braces 12, having their free ends engaging grooves 13 in the said shafts. On the opposite sides of veach of the shafts sprocketwheels le are keyed and are engaged by endless chains 15, to which are secured the paddles or propellers 16, arranged at regular intervals. These paddles or propellers are shown in detail in Figs. 6 and 7, and in each instance they are substantially rectangular and hollow, having two sides removed and so arranged on the endless chains 15 as to bring the said open portions thereof directly against the current. To position the said blades or propellers in this manner, fastening devices for attachment to the endless chains 15 are arranged on diagonal lines relative to the contour of said paddles, and, as shown in Fig. 6, the said fastening devices are in the form of enlarged substantially U-shaped staples 17, having the legs 18 projected outwardly beyond the ends and headed, as at 10. The legs 1S of the staples 17 are held in the links of the endless chains 15 and the heads 19 afterward formed to es-s IOO tablish a connection. As a convenient mode of forming the said paddles or propellers each comprises at strips of metal 20, having angularly-bent ends 2l, and when joined the said strips are placed at right angles to each other, and the opposite ends of one strip lie against the inner surfaces of the similar ends of the other strip, and to accommodate this arrangementone strip is made slightly shorter than the other. The staples 17 hold the parts together, and the overlapped angularly-bent ends of the two strips stiften and reinforce each paddle or propeller against bending. In Fig. 7 the form of the paddle or propeller is slightly modified in that rods 22, which extend entirely through each paddle from end to end, are substituted for the staples 17, and in this instance, as in the construction shown by Fig. 6, the ends 23 of the rods project exteriorly and are headed. -As previously Set forth, the open sides of the several paddles or propellers receive the impact of the current, and a number of the same will be located under the motor at one andthe same time,'and when lifting around the shafts 10 and 1l they are placed in such position as to entirely free themselves of Water to avoid lifting by the mechanism of any extra weight, and thereby overcome as much resistance as possible. In moving over the upperportion of the motorthe paddles or propellers travel or bear upon the metallic sheathing 8, and the ,open space 7 permits the water to flow through the motor and removes all liability of a dam resistance.

As set forth, the outer ends of the shafts lO and 1l are held by bearing-arms 9, and outside of said arms said shafts have sprocketwheels 25 fixed thereto, which are engaged by chain belts 26, running to smaller sprocket- Wheels 27' on drive-shafts 28, mounted inv bearings 29 on the outside floats 1 and 2. A part of these shafts 28 have two pulleys or band-wheels 30 thereon, while the remaining portion only have one of said pulleys or band- These pulleys or band wheels wheels 30. could be replaced by sprocketwheels or other transmitting-gearing, and in the present instance the form of such devices employed is t adaptedto be engaged by belts, (not shown,) which run to a distance from the motor and transmit the power generated by the paddles or propellers 16 through the shafts 10 and 11 for any desirable use, such as running machinery or the mechanism of an electric-light plant. On the shafts 28, on one end of the motor, inner friction-wheels 31 are keyed, and at a suitable distance therefrom are shorter shafts 32,-also having frictionwheels 33 on the same in alinement with the wheels 3l. On the shafts 32 drums 34 are also fastened and have the upper ends of adjusting-chains 35 secured thereto, which run downwardly through depending han ger-yokes 36, having grooved pulleys 37 to ease the movement of the said chains. Adjacent to the friction-rollers 31 and 33 a lever 38 is pivotally mounted and carries a stub-shaft 39,

on which a connecting-roller 40 has rotation. The free end of the lever is adj ustably mounted in a corrugated open standard 41 and, as as shown in Fig. 5, is cut away at its upper portion, as at 42, to permit the bends of the standard to engage and hold the said lever in its adjusted position. Adjacent to each of the rollers 33 and forming a part thereof are ratchet-faces 42a, which are engaged by pawls 43. The lower ends of the adj usting-chains 35 are attached to opposite portions of a staychain 43, which is connected at opposite ends to stakes or posts 44, driven into the opposite banks of the river or other stream in which the motor is located, and when properly positioned or 'anchored the said stay-chain is drawn taut and located some distance below the under portion of the motor. At the opposite end of the motor similar ad j usting-chains :The said rollers 33, however, differ from those heretofore set forth in that they are provided with a series of circumferential openings 45, adapted to be removably engaged by handbars 46. A ratchet 42a also forms part of the roller 33 in this instance, and a pawl 43 engages the said ratchet 42. On the shafts 28 at this end of the motor rollers 45 are secured, similar to the rollers 31, which maybe used for any purpose and either assist in transmitting the power lfrom the drive-shaft on which they are located or for attachments imparting motion to other attachments that may be mounted on the motor. The adj usting-chains 35 at this end of the motor extend downwardly through hangers 47 and are attached to a second stay-chain 43, which is arranged similar to that heretofore described and extends under the motor similarly to the stay-chain 43, being in like manner fastened at its opposite ends by means of posts 44, also driven into the adjacent bank. One of the hangers 36 is shown in detail, Fig. 9, and consists of an- IIO end 49 is in a plane at right angles to the end 48, being so positioned by a lateral extension 50, and is adapted to pass over and be secu red against the front ends of the outside floats l and 2, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The ends 48 are secured to adjacent portions of the floats 5, and the lower portion of each of the said hangers is attened, as at 5l, and apertured to receive the bearings for the pulleys 37. One of the hangers 47 is shown by Fig. 8 and differs slightly in construction from the hangers 36 in that the upper part of each side thereof is bent inwardly, as at 52, andA then extends upwardly and outwardly, as at 53, the outwardly-extending portions being in horizontal planes and one longer than the other for securement to the adjacent parts of the floats 1, 2, and 5.

On one or both of the outside floats 1 and 2 is a winding device consisting of a countershaft 54 in bearings 55, and on the rear end is a beveled gear 5G, which isadapted to mesh with a similar gear 57 on the outer portion of the shaft 28. A winding-drum 5S is loosely mounted on said shaft 54 and has a clutch member 59 thereon, which is adapted to be engaged by a second clutch member GO, adjustable on the said shaft 54 and operated by a clutch-lever 6l, pivotally mounted on the float. The accompanying drawings show a winding device of the character specified on each side to show that the said mechanism is adapted for use on both sides of the motor; but under ordinary circumstances only one of the same will be necessary. The function of this winding device is to assist in drawing a foot-bridge or otherdevices toward the motor from the adjacent bank, or it may be equally well employed for other purposes, and in operation the gear 5G rotates the shaft 54 through the medium of the gear 57, and when the clutch members 50 and GO are in engagement the drum 5S is rotated, and by disengaging the said clutch the said drum may run loose for unwinding purposes.

On one side of the motor adjacent the rear end a water-elevator 62 is mounted and consists of an inclined frame G3, having opposite sides, with lower slotted 'or bifnrcated ends 64, as clearly shown iu Fig. 3, which fit over the shaft 1l on the outer side of the endless chain 15. Within the said frame 63 is an endless chain G5, which carries a series of buckets G6, arranged at regular intervals and movable over an'upper chain-wheel 67. The frame G3 is supported by an upright G8, which is removably fitted in a clip G9 on an adjacent portion of one of the iioats, and at the upper end said upright is permanently secured to said frame. Hanger-rods extend downwardly from the upper end ofthe frame 63 and suitably support a trough or chute 7l, which is adapted to extend over from one side of the motor, as shown in Fig. l, to any distance away therefrom and preferably to one bank of the stream in which the motor is located, where the water from the trough runs into a sluiceway or other conduit overland to any suitable distance for the purpose of irrigation or other use. The elevator 62 is removable from the motor, and while it is shown applied to one side of the same it may be equally well positioned at any other point or duplicated on opposite sides without requiring any material change in the construction and arrangement of parts. The endless chain 65 of the elevator is operated by a suitable sprocket on the shaft l1, and the water is elevated by the buckets GG and delivered in the trough or chute 7l.

As previously noted, power may be transmitted from the drive-shafts 28, and when frictional mechanism is employed, as shown at one end of the motor, the drums 34 can be operated to wind the adjustingchains 35 thereon and properly hold the motor down in the stream in a predetermined lposition and in such manner as to be best influenced by the current. In releasing the adjustingchains the friction-wheels 40 are disengaged through the movement of the levers 38 and the pawls 43 are released from the ratchets 42% The same operation of the drums 34 at the opposite end of the machine can be accomplished by operating the hand-bars 4G and rotating rollers 45.

The power of the machine can be distributed to any point from opposite sides, and all the drive-shafts 2S are adapted to be simultaneously used or employed for operating other machinery, or one or more of the same without the others could be so utilized.r The paddles or propellers 1G are large and .impart considerable rotative power to the shafts lO and ll, which is regularly transferred therefrom to the several drive-shafts.

Changes inthe proportions, dimensions, and minor details of construction might be resorted to without in the least departing from the nature or spirit of the invention or sacricing any of the advantages thereof.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. In a current-motor of the character set forth, the combination of outer and inner floats,adj Listing-chains depending therefrom,

and under stay-chains anchored at opposite ends and to which the said adjusting-chains are connected.

2. In a current-motor of thevcharacter set forth, the combination with outer and inner floats and blades 'or propellers, of stay-chains passing underneath the motor and anchored at opposite ends, adjusting-chains depending from the motor and attached to the said staychains, and means for winding the said adjusting-chains.

3. In a current-motor of the character set forth, the combination of outer and inner oats connected to each other,shafts at the opposite ends of the inner floats having sprocketwheels thereon, endless chains engaging said sprocket-wheels and carrying blades or propellers, drive-shafts on the outer iioats connected to said end shafts, drums adjacent to said drive-shafts having means for operating the same, adjusting-chains connected to said drums, and stay-chains running transversely under the motor and anchored at opposite ends, the said adjusting-chains being connected to the stay-chains.

4. In a current-motor of the character set forth, the combination of outer and inner floats, shafts at opposite ends of the inner iioats engaged by endless chains carrying blades or propellers, drive-shafts on the outer iioats at opposite sides of the endless chains and connected to the said end shafts, said drive-shafts having friction-wheels thereon, adjacent shaft-s carrying drums and frictionwheels with ratchets, pawls to engage said ratchets, a lever carrying a friction wheel or roller, adjusting-chains attached to and IOO IIO

IZO

adapted to be Wound on the said drums, and stay-chains extending transversely under the motor and anchored at opposite ends, the said adjusting-chains being connected to the staychains.

5. In a motor of the character set forth, the combination of outer and inner floats, shafts at opposite ends of the inner floats, blades or propellers operating the said shafts, and a water-elevator comprising a frame having lower bifurcated ends engaging one of the said end shafts, an endless chain with buckets thereon operated by said engaged end shaft, an upright supporting said frame, and hangers depending from the upper end of the frame and to which a trough is connected.

6. In a current-motor, the combination of outer and inner floats having blades or propellers movable over a portion thereof, driveshafts on the outer floats, drums ajacent said drive shafts, adj nsting chains depending from said drums, depending hangers having grooved rollers therein through which said chains pass', and lower transverse stay-chains anchored at opposite ends and to which the lower ends of the said adjusting-chains are attached.

7. In a device of the character set forth, the combination with opposite chains, of a blade or propeller consisting of two metallic strips having the ends of each bent at right angles and one set of ends placed Within and against the other set to dispose the strips in a plane at a right angle to each other, and

fastening devices extending through the said ends and adapted to be connected to the chains.

In testimony whereof I alix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM TURNER.

` Witnesses:

JAMES JERMAN, W. O. PARR. 

